I was visiting Manolo's Shoeblog to remind the oldest that Dad can be much more odd than he is if those grades don't stay up. Like wearing a tee-shirt that says "The Manolo says cute funky fashion troll" in bright pink. To the sports award dinner. I've found this works very well, much better than threats or groundings. It turns out that very odd and entertaining man has a book with a dedication by this fellow. A quick look at his site turns up this gem:

"...academicians can't dance, their souls are shallow."

I couldn't stop laughing the whole time because so much of it was true, even in the sciences. While the rumors of business people only interested in science for profit's sake are true for some, quite honestly, I meet more scientist in business with wider ranging interests than I ever did in academia. And while their soul might be tainted with filthy lucre, they still have them at full depth. Herr Professor von Korncrake is dead on. (Having friends that attend the Kalamazoo Conference, I now find myself a bit concerned aobut those going-ons.)